International Research Journal of Engineering and Technology (IRJET)
Volume: 07 Issue: 07 | July 2020 www.irjet.net
Design of Earth Tube Heat Exchanger
Devika Padwal 1, Tejaskumar Kharva2, Jaiminkumar Bhatt3
1,2Bachlor
of Mechanical Engineering at ITM Vocational University, Vadodara-
391760, Gujarat, India
3Assistant professor in Mechanical Engineering Department at ITM Vocational University, Vadodara-
391760, Gujarat, India.
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Abstract - Now a day we all are aware of the increasing
price of electricity. So, everyone is moving towards
sustainable living. In this case, Earth Tube Heat Exchanger
is the best choice for the HVAC facility. In residential
buildings more than 40% of the electricity required for
heating and cooling purpose. To reduce the burden on the
active system we have moved towards a renewable source of
energy. Earth Tube Heat Exchanger works the basic
principles of a heat transfer and uses geothermal energy as
a source of energy. This project presents the results of
theoretical calculation and computer simulations (analysis)
of Earth Tube Heat Exchanger. By this system, we can
achieve full and partial HVAC facilities in the living area.
Analysis of the system is done by using solid works. NTU
method is used to calculate the length of ETHE and the
effect of the velocity on the effectiveness of the ETHE. The
experimental setup consisted of a 21 m long aluminium tube
buried at a depth 3.5 m and having a diameter of 0.15 m. A
250 W blower is used for transporting the air in an open-
loop system.
Key Words: Geothermal energy, NTU,
Effectiveness of ETHE.
1. INTRODUCTION
Worldwide, it is estimated that the residential
buildings, offices, and stores consume around 40% of
our energy and 70% of our electricity. Heating and
cooling for residential, commercial, and industrial
purposes account for a large share of total final
energy demand. To lessen the burden on the active
systems transforming renewable energy into the
thermal or electrical energy, a necessary first step is
to apply the optimal combination of passive design
strategies, foremost among them passive solar design
strategies. Geothermal energy is considered a
renewable source of energy (never-ending source of
energy).
Traditional heating and cooling system required
compressor, condenser, and evaporator setup. While
Earth tube heat exchanger is an underground heat
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exchanger that can capture heat from the ground for
heating purposes and dissipate heat to the ground
for cooling purposes. Earth tube heat exchanger is a
creative way to use the geothermal energy to our
advantage, both for heating and cooling inside the
living area. Earth tube heat exchanger required
blower to move the air throughout the setup of the
ground loop heat exchanger. Heat is extracted from
or rejected to the ground through a buried pipe,
through fluid flow. This simple setup helps in
reducing cost, electricity consumption for the system.
This system eliminates the compressor, condenser,
and evaporator cost by simply using geothermal
energy.
2. DESIGN PARAMETERS
The following parameters are very important in
designing of ETHE.
1. Tube Material: While selecting the tube material
for ETHE we have to consider given properties like
strength, corrosion resistance, durability, and cost of
the material.
2. Tube Length:
Heat transfer depends on the surface area.
The surface area of a pipe depends on: a) Diameter.
b) Length
So, the increased length would mean increased heat
transfer rate and hence higher efficiency. After, a
certain length no significant heat transfer occurs.
Hence optimize length. Increasing length also results
in a pressure drop. Hence increase fan energy.
3. Tube Diameter:
Smaller diameter gives better thermal performance
but results in larger pressure drops increased
diameter results in a reduction in air speed and heat
transfer.
4. Tube Depth: Ground temperature affected by the:
a) External climate.
b) Soil Composition.
c) Water Content.
d) Thermal Properties.
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 International Research Journal of Engineering and Technology (IRJET) e-ISSN: 2395-0056
Volume: 07 Issue: 07 | July 2020 www.irjet.net p-ISSN: 2395-0072

The ground temperature fluctuates in time, but the 2. Reynolds number

amplitude of fluctuation diminished with depth.
Burying pipe/tubes as deep as possible would be
ideal. Generally, 4-5m below the earth’s surface
dampens the oscillation significantly. 3. Prandtl number
3. OBJECTIVE
Earth tube heat exchanger is a creative way to use
the geothermal energy to our advantage, both for
heating and cooling inside the living area. The main 4. Nusselt number
objective of this project is mention below:
1. To find an alternative solution for active heating
and cooling system like air conditioning, heater.
2. Taking advantage of the encircling environment
and ground temperature.
3. Moving towards a renewable source of energy.
4. Addressing technology that is more environments 5. Convective heat transfers Co-efficient per unit length
friendly.
5. Reducing energy consumption by heating and h= Nu kair
cooling system. Do
This project will help you to design geothermal
energy-based heating and cooling system. In this 6. Overall heat transfer coefficient
project, we explained about important parameters
while designing ETHE.

4. TUBE MATERIAL SELECTION 7. Effectiveness

The tube is the main element of ETHE. There are
certain properties we have to take into consideration
while finalizing the tube material. Tube material
must have good thermal conductivity, strength, 8. NTU
corrosion resistance, durability, and the cost of the
tube material.
1. Copper has a thermal conductivity of 385 W/mk.
2. Aluminium has a thermal conductivity of 205
W/mk. 9. Amount of heat transfer
3. Brass has a thermal conductivity of 109W/mk.
4. Iron has a thermal conductivity of 79.5 W/mk. Q = m Cp ( Tout - Tin )
5. Steel has a thermal conductivity of 50.2 W/mk.
6. PVC has a thermal conductivity of 0.19 W/mk. 10. Coefficient of performance
We take aluminium as a tube material. It has good
COP = m Cp ( Tout - Tin ) / Power input
thermal conductivity, better corrosion resistance,
and cheaper in cost. By using above these formulas, we found out the
5. DESIGN CALCULATION length of ETHE. Calculation results are given below.
Here is a list of formulas we consider while
calculating the length of earth tube heat exchanger,
and efficiency of the earth tube heat exchanger at a
different velocity.

1. Mass flow rate

m = (v x ρ x π x Di2)/4

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Table – 1. INPUT PARAMETERS

No. Input
Parameters Symbols Value Unit
1. Inlet Temp. T 40 °C
in
2. Length of
Tube L 35 °C
3. Pipe wall
Temp.
(below 5ft) T 25 °C
wall
4. Thermal
conductivity
k 0.0266 W/mK
of the Air air
5. Thermal
conductivity
of the Pipe k 205 W/mK
pipe
6. Thermal
Capacity C 1006 J/KgK
p
7. 1.84 x
-5
Viscosity µ 10 N/ms
8. Density of 3
the Air Ρ 1.1465 Kg/m
9. Velocity of 1.5, 2,
the Air v 3, 4 m/s
air
10. Outer dia.
of the Pipe D 0.18 m
o
11. Inner dia.
Of the Pipe D 0.15 m
i
12. Outer radi.
of the Pipe R 0.09 m
o
13. Inner radi.
Of the Pipe R 0.075 m
i

6. DIMENSTION AND COOLING CAPACITY OF AN EXPERIMENTAL SETUP

Length of an experimental setup = 3.048m Height of an experimental setup = 1.585m Breadth of an
experimental setup = 1.128m
There are two methods to calculate cooling capacity (By reference of living area).
(1) Area Method
(2) Volume Method We used volume method.
Cooling capacity = (10feet) X (5.2feet) X (3.7feet)/1000
= 0.1924 ton

7. LENGTH OF EARTH TUBE HEAT EXCHANGER

We are calculating the length of the earth tube heat exchanger for that we are considering a minimum
temperature drop is equal to 10°C. All the input parameters are mentioned in the above table.
1. Mass flow rate (m) = 0.0608 Kg/sec
2. Reynolds number (Re) =28039.4022
3. Prandtl number (Pr) =0.6959
4. Nusselt number (Nu) = 66.3627
5. Convective heat transfer coefficient per unit length (h) = 9.8069 W/m2K
6. Overall heat transfer (Ut) = 9.7933
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 International Research Journal of Engineering and Technology (IRJET) e-ISSN: 2395-0056
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7. Effectiveness = 0.7 8. NTU = 1.2

9. Length of tube = 20.89 (Approx. 21m)
10°C temperature drop is achieved when the length of ETHE is equal to 21m. Now we have calculated the
change in outlet temperature when the velocity of a fluid change from 1.5, 2, 3, 4m/sec, and COP of the system.
The results are shown in the below table.

Table – 2. OUTLET TEMPERATURE, HEAT FLOW, COP AT DIFFERENT VELOCITY.

Veloci 1.5 2 3 4
ty
m 0.030 0.0405 0.0608 0.081
Re 14019.7 18692.9 28039.4 37385.9
Pr 0.6959 0.6959 0.6959 0.6959
f 0.0287 0.0266 0.024 0.0224
Nu 38.3481 48.6212 66.3627 82.8448
h 5.7409 7.1851 9.8069 14.6911
Ut 5.7362 7.1778 9.7933 14.6605
NTU 1.9 1.721 1.5 1.032
€ 0.85 0.8 0.7 0.6
Tout 27.25° 28° 29.5° 31°
Q (w) 384.795 488.916 642.230 733.374
Q 0.109 0.139 0.183 0.209
(ton)
COP 1.5 1.9 2.5 2.9

8. SIMULATION

The 3D model has been developed in SOLIDWORKS flow simulation software, version-2018. After a creating
3D model. Analysis of the earth tube heat exchanger is done with SOLIDWORKS 2018 flow simulation
software. It shows the flow of fluid and rate of heat transfer (heat transfer between soil and fluid) in ETHE.
The fluid goes through basic set up of the wizard, adding lids on the inlet & outlet, assigning goals for the
temperature drop, and viewing a few results. Heat transfer between soil to earth tubes to fluid is observed as
shown in the above analytical model. A temperature drops of 20°C was observed by this simulation.

Figure 1. Shows the temperature of a Figure 4. Shows a density of the fluid in

fluid in ETHE. each section of the pipe.
(Convective heat transfers take place)

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 International Research Journal of Engineering and Technology (IRJET)
Volume: 07 Issue: 07 | July 2020
Figure 2. Shows the heat transfer
between soil and aluminum tube
(Conductive heat transfers take place)
Figure 3. Shows a velocity of the fluid in
each section in the pipe.
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9. RESULT AND DISCUSSION
The results are summarized under the following
points:
 The experimental setup consisted of a 21 m
long Aluminium tube buried at a depth 3.5 m
and having a diameter of 0.15 m. A 250 W
blower is used for transporting the air in an
open-loop system.
 10°C temperature drop is considered to
calculate the optimum length for ETHE.
 Theoretical calculations were carried out for
different fluid velocity, which are 0.15m/sec,
2m/sec, 3m/sec, 4m/sec respectively.
 It has been observed that if the fluid velocity
increases the heat transfer rate through the
heat exchanger is decreases. With the
minimum heat transfer rate, the temperature
drop is also decreased compared to a low
fluid velocity.
 But as an air velocity decreases pressure
inside the heat exchanger also decreases.
Therefore 2m/sec to 4m/sec is an
appropriate range from air velocity.
 The tube material is one of the most
important parameters while designing ETHE.
We know that increased length would mean
increased heat transfer rate. But after, a
certain length no significant heat transfer
occurs. So, the tube material will help to
increase the heat transfer rate.
 Aluminium has high thermal conductivity and
good corrosion resistance, because of this
property better amount of heat transfer takes
place through the heat exchanger. Therefore,
we used aluminium as a tube material.

 COP of the system is also increased from 1.5 to 2.9. With increasing fluid velocity in the system from
1.5m/sec to 4m/sec.

10. CONCLUSIONS

In this paper design of Earth Tube Heat Exchanger (ETHE) and an analytical model is generated. The
experimental setup consisted of a 21m long Aluminum tube with a diameter of 0.15m. NTU method is used for
theoretical calculation.

The present work shows that air velocity is inversely proportional to the heat transfer rate. As velocity increases
temperature drop decreases. 21m is calculated as an optimum length for ETHE. Lower air velocity gives better
cooling and heating but optimum air velocity is required which is in a range of 2m/sec to 4m/sec.

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 International Research Journal of Engineering and Technology (IRJET) e-ISSN: 2395-0056
Volume: 07 Issue: 07 | July 2020 www.irjet.net p-ISSN: 2395-0072

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